>> reporter: among this group you will find veronica savaria, an undocumented student from el salvador that lived here seven years and wants to be a psychologist. >> i like to help people and the maryland dream act has opened so many doors for me and it brightens my future. >> reporter: tuesday president obama captured 71% of the hispanic vote compared to mitt romney's 27%. that is a big dropoff for republicans who as recently as 2004 saw then president george w. bush win 44% of the latino vote after he embraced immigration reform. but folks here say they are reaching out to republicans as well trying to frame immigration reform as a family values issue for hispanic families. >> immigration is one of the most important for us because many families were divided. many kids are alone in this country. so it's for the immigration reform is going to be the solution. >> and to send the congress a message! >> reporter: as election day 2012 is in the books, latino voters say their newfound political capital will help them write a new chapter in elections to come. at the white house tom fitzgera